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MOUNT DORA

Mount Dora police investigating drive-by shooting

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Mount Dora police responded to reports of a drive-by shooting Friday afternoon in which two individuals exchanged gunfire, officials with the department said. The shooting happened at Lincoln Avenue and Clayton Street, where shell casings were found in the road, police said, however, no victims have been found. [TRENDING: Woman arrested in hit-run involving sheriff | Gov: Fla. won’t require ‘vaccine passports’ | Girl missing for weeks]AdPolice are looking for a black Honda vehicle that was last seen heading toward U.S. 441. Authorities are also looking for a Black male wearing a red shirt who was seen running from the area. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Mount Dora police.

Missing Mount Dora boy found safe in ‘remote area’ of Minnesota, his mother says

FDLE issued a missing child alert Tuesday for John Weldon, who was last seen in the area of Mount Dora and could be with 42-year-old Daryl Weldon in a 2014 silver Mitsubishi Outlander with Florida tag IB14FR. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A missing 9-year-old Mount Dora boy has been found safe, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. A missing child alert for John Weldon was canceled Wednesday morning. His mother told News 6 that he was located in a “remote area” of Minnesota and she’s making travel plans to be with him. Authorities said Daryl Weldon does not have custody rights.

STILL MISSING: Mount Dora boy may be traveling to Colorado or Wisconsin with father

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – UPDATE: As of Tuesday, John Weldon has not been found and a missing child alert has been activated. ORIGINAL STORY: Mount Dora police have issued an alert for a missing 9-year-old boy who may be traveling out of state with a 42-year-old man. John Weldon, 9, was last seen Wednesday in the Mount Dora area. He is 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 55 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information about the case it asked to call the Mount Dora Police Department at 352-735-7136 or 911.

Mount Dora release sketch of man behind abuduction

Mount Dora police officers released a sketch of a man who attacked a woman in the area of Highland Street and 9th Avenue. MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Mount Dora police officers released a sketch of a man who attacked a female victim in the area of Highland Street and 9th Avenue. Police said around 10 p.m. on Feb. 28 the man approached the victim from behind, grabbed her by the neck and took her to the backyard of a home. Investigators said the victim was able to escape once the man left her alone. Police request when using the QR code prompt to make sure to reference case # 21MD05856.

Mount Dora Arts Festival brings hope to struggling artists

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The 46th annual Mount Dora Arts Festival will welcome art lovers and artists on Saturday not just from Florida but from outside the Sunshine State as well. Ronald Weltmer, a woodwork artist who lives in Eustis, is excited to be attending the iconic festival for the first time. Organizers from the Mount Dora Center for the Arts said their priority is the public’s safety. Deborah Barnes, a jewelry artist in Mount Dora, has been part of the festival for more than 40 years and is looking forward to her first show in a year. Visitors are asked not to stroll around the festival with food or drinks to prevent them from taking off their face coverings.

Mount Dora police make progress in double homicide case

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Officers with the Mount Dora Police Department said they haven’t made an arrest in the double homicide at the T&N Market from Nov. 30, 2020. Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, and Minh “Tina” Nguyen, 47, were shot multiple times during an apparent robbery at their Mount Dora convenience store, according to police. This update to the homicide investigation follows the release of surveillance video released by Mount Dora police. [RELATED: New surveillance video shows gunman inside Mount Dora store moments before deadly shooting]Meade said he is hopeful the investigation will produce beneficial information to their investigation despite some challenges. “This is a forensics-based case, unfortunately, there are no eyewitnesses both Ken and Tina were brutally murdered,” Meade said.

Counties roll out second doses of COVID-19 vaccine

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – St. Patrick Catholic Church in Mount Dora will begin administering second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Health officials in Lake County said second doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be done by appointment. Ron DeSantis at a press conference in Jacksonville Monday, reassuring seniors that they will be able to get their second doses. This morning in Seminole County, health officials were on-site while they began rolling out about 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine, according to leaders. In Orange County, cars lined up for second doses of the vaccine at the Orange County Convention Center.

Mount Dora COVID-19 vaccine site offering second doses, no initial shots

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The Lake County Department of Health will begin offering the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mount Dora this week. The DOH site will only be offering second doses at this site, no first doses, according to an email from Mount Dora Mayor Cathy Hoechst. It’s unclear when the site at 6803 Old Highway 441 South will begin giving first doses again as of Jan. 25. People who got their first dose from Lake County DOH will be contacted for an appointment. Beginning in February, by appointment only, the DOH will begin administering the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Surveillance video shows business burglar, Mount Dora police say

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Mount Dora police say they’ve released video of a man burglarizing a local business in hopes that someone will recognize the culprit. The break-in happened at a business along Donnelly Street on Monday, police said. Police: Surveillance video shows man from business burglary (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.) Investigators believe the man may be involved in other incidents that occurred in the same area. If you recognize him, call Mount Dora Police at 352-735-7130.

Lake County opens new COVID-19 vaccination site

Vaccination hubs to open across Texas; 3 locations opening in the Houston areaLAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Health Department of Health in Lake County opened a coronavirus vaccination site Monday with operations slated to run throughout the week. Health department leaders said St. Patrick Catholic Church in Mount Dora will help serve the northern side of the county. Patients 65 and older must bring identification and frontline workers must provide proof of employment. Health care workers will be required to present a copy of their medical license, employee badge or current paystub. People do not have to live in Lake County to get the shot.

Florida men robbed graves of veterans because they have ‘stronger spirits,’ sheriff says

Desecrated graves in Mount Dora (Polk County Sheriff's Office)During a news conference on Friday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that detectives served a search warrant at Lopez’s home where they found a shed with a religious shrine and seven skulls. Shrine in Lake Wales (Polk County Sheriff's Office)Before the men vandalized the grave sites, Judd said they drank Bacardi rum and spit it out on the ground. Authorities said DNA on those cigars left at the crime scene led them to identify the two men as suspects. “When asked about why a hero’s grave, He (Lopez) said because the spirit is much stronger in a hero than it is a normal person,” Judd said. “He complained that in the United States, it’s difficult in getting human remains to practice his religion.”Brian Montalvo, Juan Burgos-LopezBoth men were booked into the Polk County Jail on their Lake County warrants.

2 arrested in theft of human skulls from Mount Dora cemetery

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – DNA on cigars led to the arrest of two men who pried open caskets and stole human skulls from a Mount Dora cemetery so they could be used in religious rituals, according to Lake County sheriff’s officials. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the vandals disturbed four graves and attempted to access a fifth. Mother and daughter Tanya and Emma Boothe were driving along Britt Road in Mount Dora December 6, when they spotted an open casket. Records show Lopez said four of the skulls were taken from the graves and two were obtained from other practitioners. Lopez and Tolentino are facing four counts of disturbing the contents of a grave and four counts of abuse of a dead human body.

New surveillance video shows gunman inside Mount Dora store moments before deadly shooting

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Mount Dora police released surveillance video Tuesday in the search for the gunman in a convenience store shooting that left a couple dead earlier this month. [WATCH BELOW: Surveillance video shows gunman inside T&N Market][MORE COVERAGE: ‘The man inside is dead:’ Woman calls 911 after Mount Dora store owners found fatally shot | Woman discovered Mount Dora shooting victims, left without calling 911, police say]Though authorities have not identified the gunman, they had made an arrest in the case. Dixon was connected to the case after she was seen in surveillance video recorded from outside of the store one minute after the shooting had occurred. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Mount Dora police or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS. Checks made to Mount Dora Community Trust should include the memo: T and N Memorial Fund.

‘The man inside is dead:’ Woman calls 911 after Mount Dora store owners found fatally shot

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – More than one week after a Mount Dora couple was shot to death while closing their store, authorities have released a new 911 call detailing the moment residents found the shooting victims. “The man dead in the store, lady,” the 911 caller told the dispatcher. I don’t know if the killer’s still in here but the man in the store is dead,’” the woman said. Please call in those tips.”Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Mount Dora police or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS. Checks made to Mount Dora Community Trust should include the memo: T and N Memorial Fund.

‘The coffin is gone:’ 911 caller alerts deputies to grave site theft at Mount Dora cemetery

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – An alert citizen driving by a Mount Dora cemetery saw something off and called 911 notifying the Lake County Sheriff’s Office about what they’re calling suspected ritualistic activity. Deputies said they were called Sunday afternoon to Edgewood Cemetery at 3333 Britt Road about a complaint of vandalism to some of the graves. [TRENDING: This woman received the first COVID-19 vaccine | Judge scolds theme park trespasser | Chuck Yeager dies at 97]The 911 caller said she was driving past the cemetery and noticed a disturbed tomb stone. “There are graves sites where the vault has been taken off and half of the coffin is gone,” the caller said. “If that was my family, I wouldn’t want somebody coming and digging them up,” the 911 caller said.

Human remains stolen from Mount Dora cemetery likely used in ritual

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Human remains were stolen from a Mount Dora cemetery and used in some type of ritualistic activity, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they were called Sunday afternoon to Edgewood Cemetery at 3333 Britt Road about a complaint of vandalism to some of the graves. Deputies said the vandals disturbed four graves, all of which no longer held human remains, and attempted to access a fifth. Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to the vandalism by a woman who was driving past the cemetery and noticed a disturbed tomb stone. Deputies talked to residents who live nearby and they said they did not hear any loud noises coming from the cemetery.

Woman discovered Mount Dora shooting victims, left without calling 911, police say

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – A woman was arrested Friday after Mount Dora police say she walked into a local business where a couple had just been shot and did not help. Dixon later told police she looked over the counter and saw Trinh and heard him moaning. Investigators said Dixon was recorded on surveillance video entering and leaving the store 1 minute after the shooting. Mount Dora Interim Police Chief Brett Meade said investigators continue to search for the shooter and are closer to solving the crime. Checks made to Mount Dora Community Trust should include the memo: T and N Memorial Fund.

1 killed after pedestrian crash in Mount Dora, officers say

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A 43-year-old man was found dead Saturday after investigators say he was hit by a car. Investigators said the crash happened on Southbound 441 near Lincoln Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. According to the Mount Dora Police Department, officers responded to the area and found Cruz just south of Lincoln Avenue. 1 killed after hit-and-run crash in Mount DoraOfficers said there were no vehicles in the area when they arrived but determined that the driver involved was the original complainant and returned to the scene. According to officials, the driver is not faces any charges at this time.